Swimming apparatus



April 28,1925. 1,535,481

G.G-B.KJELGAARD SWIMMING APPARATUS Filed May 17, 1924 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

onnenns e. B. KinlLeAARn, or HoosIcK rAtLs, NEW roux.

' SWIMMING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 17,

'To all whom it may CO-RC'GWt. '7

Be it known that I, Gnnonas G. B. Kann- GAARD, a subject of Denmark, residing at Hoosick Falls, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Swinr ming Apparatus, of which the following'is aspecification. r

This invention relates to swimming apparatus and is designed for aiding the swimmer in propulsion of his body through the water.

The prime object of my invention is the provision of a propulsion sheet adapted to flex fore-arm upon upper arm so as to form an angle at the joint between fore-arm and upper arm, said sheet being suspended in angle between fore-arm and upper arm, and means whereby this sheet may be attached to arms and body of a swimmer.

Another object'of my invention is the provision of a body support for this appa ratus, said body support having means for being made buoyant.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device suitable to be used for life saving, the propulsion sheets, by reason of the increased surface for pressing against the water, giving more speed and power to the swimmer, and the construction of the arm supports leaving the fingers free to help any swimmer in need of assistance.

More detailed construction of the apparatus will appear in the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, on which similar reference characters.

indicate similar part-s.

Fig. 1 is a front view of the swimming apparatus. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of front part of arm support, showing the openings provided'in same for the passage of fingers.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a modified form of the apparatus. Referring now to the drawing Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises a pair of sleeve like supports A of suitable fabric enclosing the arms and having at their outer extremities a number of openings 5, through which the fingers pass, said openings being formed by uniting at intervals 6, preferably bystitching, the opposite edges forming opening for hand.

Connected with sleeve supports and suspended in angle between upper arm and 1924. Serial No; 714,065.

forearm are a pair of sheets 7 of suitable material as fabric, said sheets serving to keep fore-arm flexed upon upper a-rm, thus forming an angle atthe joint between upper arm and fore-arm. w

The free margins 8 of sheets 7 are'reinforced by tape, webbing, or they may be simply bent over and stitched.

At the end of sleeve supports near shoulders they are connected, preferably by stitching, with a body support 9 of suitable fabric, which serves to attach the apparatus to the body of swimmer, said body support being open in front and means being provided'for closing the free edges 10 of same by lacing, snap fasteners or other suitable fastening.

For the purpose of giving buoyancy to theapparatus I provide air compartments situated between two fabric layers composing body support, said air compartments having means for being inflated or deflated,

or I may simply use buoyant material for lining the fabric of body support.

The modified form of the apparatus. shown in Fig. 3 differs from the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 only by the manner in which it is attached to the body of swimmer. A strap 11 surrounds upper part of chest, being held up by shoulder straps 12 with a cross strap' 13 at the back ofshoulder straps, and means being provided forclosing the free edges of strap 11 at 1 1-. The arm supports are in this form attached to strap 11 and shoulder straps 12, preferably by stitching.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure Letters Patent is:

1. A swimming apparatus comprising a sheet member adapted to hold fore-arm in a position to form an angle with upper arm, an arm engaging support connected with said sheet, and means for securing said apparatus upon the body.

2. A swimming apparatus comprising sheet members adapted to hold-fore-arm in a position to form an angle with upper ari'n, arm engaging supports connected with said sheets, a body support connected with arm supports, and means for securing said apparatus upon the body.

3. A swimming apparatus comprising sheet members adapted to hold fore-arm in sheets, a body support connected with arm supports and sheets,- and-meansfor securing said apparatus upon the body 4. A swimming apparatus comprising sheet members adapted to hold fore-arm in a position to form an'angle with upper arm, arm engaging supports connectedwitlrsaid sheets, finger receiving openings at outer end of arm supports, a bodysupportconne'cted with arm supports and sheets, and means for? scouring said: apparatus upon the body.

A swimming; apparatus comprising sheet members adapted to hold: fore arm in a? position to form an =ang1'erwith upper. arm, a reinforced edge of saidish'eets,arm engagingr supports connected with said sheets, fingerfrcceiving. openings at outer end of GREGE'RS G: B; K JELGAARDQ. 

